Liz Newman

I am a practising writer, based in Surrey, and my pen-name is Elizabeth Kay.

I have a degree in Fine Art, and an MA (distinction) in Creative Writing from Bath Spa, and I’ve been teaching both art and creative writing in an adult education environment for over thirty years.

Although I have had radio plays broadcast, short stories published and won poetry prizes I am best known for my children's books. The Divide trilogy, published by The Chicken House, has been translated into a number of other languages, and I write reluctant reader books for Barrington Stoke and Eprint. I have also had adult novels published. The Tree Devil is the first children’s book of mine that I have illustrated myself, and its publication date is the end of April 2010.

I have judged short story competitions, edited non-fiction books and performed my poems at various events. I have also given readings at festivals, lectures at conferences, workshops at schools and appeared on radio and television. I have been a tutor with the Open College of the Arts for over two years, and I like to think I can tackle just about any genre and age-group, from humour to horror, pre-teens to senior citizens (and I'm one of the latter myself, now) and I believe in kind but constructively honest criticism.

I have always listed my hobbies as travelling to outlandish places, and trying not to get eaten by the local wildlife. I can’t see that changing any time soon…

My website gives more information about my books, and can be found at www.elizabethkay.co.uk